Tour of the Battlefields of the Anglo Zulu War (1879)

(For guests staying at accommodation in Dundee or Rorke’s Drift area)

Day 1

12h00 (approx) – Meet Ron at Talana Museum in Dundee. Over lunch, a full background “briefing” to prepare for the tour;

14h00 – Depart for Blood River

14h40 to 16h00 – The Battle of Blood River. The might of the Zulu army is defeated for the
first time by Andries Pretorius and his Voortrekker Commando

17h00 – Arrive at accommodation near Rorke’s Drift for drinks and dinner

Day 2

08h30 to 10h00 - Follow the British line of advance to Isandlwana, via Rorke’s Drift. Stop briefly at the Batshe River to hear about the action that took place there on 12 Jan 1879;

10h00 to 13h00 – The Battle of Isandlwana. Hear the story of how a well led and superbly disciplined Zulu army overran the British camp at Isandlwana Mountain killing more than 1 300 of the defenders. Re-live some of the harrowing experiences of the fugitives as they fled, desperately seeking the hoped-for safety of the south bank of the Buffalo River;

13h30 to 14h00 – Back at Rorke’s Drift for a light lunch;

14h00 to 16h00 – The Battle of Rorke’s Drift. Within hours of the disaster at Isandlwana, 155 British soldiers successfully defended the Mission Station at Rorke’s Drift against a Zulu impi of 4 000 warriors. Learn of the horrors of the men trapped in the hospital and the courage of the Zulus as they attacked again and again. No fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the survivors in one of the most celebrated defenses in British military history.